Home Office

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lord hylton: Her Majesty's Government what co-operation exists between customs, immigration and border authorities in Kent and the Pas de Calais, includinglocal authorities, central government agencies, universities and voluntary organisations; and what plans they have to enhance such co-operation.

baroness williams of trafford: UK authorities continue to work in close cooperation with the French authorities within the framework of the Joint Ministerial declarations of September 2014 and August 2015, and the Amiens summit declaration of March 2016 to secure the joint border, tackle irregular migration and address wider humanitarian issues in Northern France.The UK has worked closely with the French Ministry of Interior, the regional Prefecture, the Ville de Calais, and port authorities to bolster physical security and upgrade screening technology at the juxtaposed ports in Calais, Dunkirk and at the Channel Tunnel. We have also increased joint intelligence work to tackle the trafficking and smuggling networks behind cross-Channel illegal migration, including enhanced police investigation cooperation at local and national level.On 24 October 2016, the British government announced a £36 million package of support to further enhance the security of the juxtaposed controls and reduce irregular migrant pressures in the Calais area and we are currently working to establish a Joint Operation Command and Coordination Centre (JOCCC) in Northern France to better support joint law enforcement initiatives, whilst looking at what more can be done jointly to tackle migration pressures upstream in source and transit countries.

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lord pearson of rannoch: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 27 July 2016 (HL1382), whether, in cases of grooming gangs, they will identify the perpetrators as they are classified in law by reference to their specific ethnic and religious identity, and not as “Asians”.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not hold information on the ethnicity or religion of suspects. The police record the self-defined ethnicity of suspects using the 16+1 Self Defined Ethnicity Codes as defined by the Office for National Statistics. The ethnicity of suspects who define themselves as Asian or British Asian are broken down under the Codes into the following more detailed ethnic groups: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Any Other Ethnic Background.Child sexual exploitation is not exclusive to any single culture, community, race or religion. It happens in all areas of the country and can take many forms.The Government has made significant progress in tackling child sexual exploitation and the ‘Tackling Child Exploitation: Progress Report’ published in February 2017 sets out the progress that has been made and what further action we will be taking.

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baroness coussins: Her Majesty's Government what is the procedure for freelance public service interpreters and translators to apply for clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service

baroness williams of trafford: An individual who is seeking to work with children or vulnerable adults may be eligible for an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, eligibility for which is set out in Part V of the Police Act 1997. Eligibility takes into account the activities and circumstances under which the person is performing the role, and not necessarily the profession.Interpreters and translators in certain public service positions may accordingly already be eligible for enhanced checks, for example those working within prisons or those working in certain roles with children or vulnerable adults. It is for an employer to satisfy themselves that the relevant position is eligible under the current legal provisions. Detailed guidance on eligibility is provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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baroness afshar: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the attack outside the Muslim Welfare House, near Finsbury Park mosque, what measures they are taking to prevent further violence in the name of religion.

baroness williams of trafford: Violence of any kind is abhorrent and the Government will do what is necessary to ensure the safety of its citizens and protect national security. The Government is taking action against all forms of terrorism and extremism, including the major threat from Islamist violent extremism. Our response includes the Counter Extremism strategy, the new Commission for Countering Extremism, and the hate crime action plan.We are also reviewing our Counter Terrorism strategy to ensure we have all the powers and measures we need to keep our communities safe. In 2015, the Chancellor announced that cross-government spending on Counter-Terrorism would be increased by 30% - increasing CT spending from the protected £11.7bn over five years to £15.1bn over the same period. We have dedicated funding to help protect places of worship who have been subject or vulnerable to a hate crime.

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lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to promote freedom of religion and belief as part of (1) their Counter-Extremism Strategy, and (2) the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

baroness williams of trafford: This Government works to protect and promote pluralistic values – including freedom of religion and belief - through its Counter-Extremism Strategy. Faith communities are crucial to tackling hatred and intolerance. Through our ‘Building a Stronger Britain Together’ programme we are supporting partners across the country to challenge extremism – including faith groups.Protecting freedom of religion and belief is also central to the UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism and cuts across two of the four pillars of the UN Global CT Strategy: addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, and ensuring respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis for the fight against terrorism.The new Commission for Countering Extremism will also support our faith communities in stamping out extremism and promoting our fundamental values.

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lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government what level of benefits and other support is given to (1) single, and (2) married, asylum seekers each month after arriving in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: Asylum seekers and their dependants who would otherwise be destitute are supported by the Home Office under the powers set out in section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.The support usually consists of free furnished accommodation (with utility bills and council tax paid) and a weekly cash allowance to cover their other essential living needs. The current level of the allowance is £36.95 per week for each supported person in a household. Asylum seekers and their dependants who are accommodated by friends or relatives can apply to receive the cash allowance if they need help to cover their essential living needs.

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lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government what was the main reason the majority of 18 year old asylum seekers were deported in 2016.

baroness williams of trafford: The UK has a long and proud tradition of providing a safe haven to those who genuinely need our protection. We do not remove asylum seekers. Those who are found not to need protection are refused but have a right of appeal to the independent courts. Once appeals rights are exhausted they are required to leave the UK.The term 'deportation' refers to returns which are enforced following either a criminal conviction in the UK (or overseas) which has resulted in a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, or where it is considered that removal of an individual is conducive to the public good due to their criminality.Those individuals who do not need protection are expected to return home if their asylum claim is refused and dismissed on appeal. All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the UK’s obligations under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights.Where a decision has been made that a person does not require international protection, and there are no remaining rights of appeal or obstacles to their return, the Home Office expects unsuccessful asylum seekers to return voluntarily to their home country. The Home Office’s preferred option is for those who have no legal basis to remain in the UK to leave voluntarily and we offer assistance to those who choose to do so by actively promoting the Home Office Voluntary Return Service.If an individual does not leave the UK voluntarily, then it may become necessary to enforce their removal. The Home Office closely monitors developments in all countries of return and takes decisions on a case-by-case basis in the light of international obligations and the latest available country information. The Home Office only enforces removal when it and the courts conclude that it is safe to do so, with a safe route of return. Enforced removals are carried out in the most sensitive way possible, treating those being removed with respect and courtesy.

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baroness kennedy of the shaws: Her Majesty's Government what measures will be contained in the domestic violence legislation announced in the Queen's Speech.

baroness williams of trafford: As announced in the Queen’s Speech, the Government will bring forward legislation to protect the victims of domestic violence and abuse.The Bill will contain a number of measures designed to protect victims and will give the justice system greater guidance and clarity about the devastating impact of domestic violence and abuse on families.It will establish a Domestic Violence and Abuse Commissioner, to stand up for victims and survivors, raise public awareness, monitor the response of statutory agencies and local authorities and hold the justice system to account in tackling domestic abuse.It will also define domestic abuse in law, and create a consolidated new domestic abuse civil prevention and protection order regime. The Bill will ensure that if abusive behaviour involves a child, then the court can hand down a sentence that reflects the devastating life-long impact that abuse can have on a child.The Bill is part of a programme of work designed to transform our approach to domestic violence and ensure that victims have the confidence to come forward and report their experiences, safe in the knowledge that the state and justice system will do everything it can to both support them and their children, and pursue their abuser.